Lotus Yoga Dublin. Your space in the heart of the city.

By: Anthony Kearney

Date: Saturday, 24:10:2009

Time: 10am-1.00pm

Cost: by donation (suggested donation - 25 Euro)

Anthony Kearney has been practicing yoya and buddhist meditation for more then twenty years now, and teaching for over twelve. Anthony teaches Iyengar and Ashtanga yoga and in recent years he has been studying with Manju Jois, Pattabhi Jois’ son and Nanncy Gilgoff , who is one of his oldest students.

Anthony says “i find the combination of Ashtanga and meditation make a lovely form of yoga, so when I practice or teach, I like to encourage awareness, watching the breath, no competition, no where to get to, quieten the mind, be still, even in your movement”.

About Anthony’s workshop.

In this workshop, we will use the asthanga practice to investigate the use of weight, gravity and balance, how it helps and how it can hinder. The advantage in letting our weight release to gravity finding balance in our postures and our effort, moving with ease, listening to our body, paying attention to our breath, being aware of internal body and external body and to remember to stop holding and release your weight. This workshop is for anyone who is interested in investigating yoga on a deeper level and turning their yoga {asana} practice in to a form of meditation.

Here are my tips to help make Tai Chi a fun and regular part of your life:

1) Pick a time that suits you. Just 15 minutes that is yours alone every day. For many of us the best time is first thing in the morning but other good times are lunch time, after work or last thing at night. 15 minutes are not much - about the same time as a cup of coffee. For those 15 minutes forget about everything except your Tai Chi, you can solve the world's problems after you finish.
2) Find somewhere where you can practice. Back gardens, parks, living rooms, kitchens or bedrooms are good places. Somewhere with as much space, light and fresh air as possible is best. Don't worry if you only have a small space, just reposition yourself when you need to.
3) Try and practice in the same place at the same time everyday. After a while your energy will harmonize with the place and you will find it increasingly easy to relax in your place at your time.
4) If you miss your time then don't worry about it - just do your 15 minutes Tai Chi as soon as you can. If you are away/travelling then don't worry just do your 15 minutes wherever you can.
5) Don't worry or give up if/when you miss a day. This can and does happen to everyone. Tomorrow is a new day so wake up, smile and practice. Let go of past failures, they are meaningless. If you want to do your Tai Chi today then you will.
6) When you practice be happy and proud of yourself. You don't have to do it perfectly. If you can't remember parts or your mind won't settle then that is fine, just keep going. Ask your teacher about it when you can. Do what you can and relax and enjoy the feeling of doing something for you. This is your time and space and you body, mind and spirit are free to enjoy it.
7) Smile as you do your Tai Chi and everything will feel better.

And enjoy, Mark from Lotus Yoga

Prenatal Yoga with Paula

Every Thursday

1-2pm

How Yoga during Pregnancy Can Benefit You

Yoga is a great way to ‘train’ for the marathon that is childbirth and motherhood!  It offers women many physical and emotional health benefits during pregnancy.  Gentle movement, relaxation and breath work will help you develop the skills necessary to cope with the demands of labour. 

Courses include: Gentle stretching, toning and strengthening movements to improve posture, balance and stamina.  This may benefit those with back pain.  The relaxation and breathing techniques allow you to conserve energy and help you cope with the possible side effects of pregnancy, eg, nausea, tiredness.

Course handouts will be given in week 3 which will help you practice at home.  

For more information, please visit www.pregnancyyogadublin.ie

This is a mixed level class suitable for beginners and intermediate level. The class is a dynamic and flowing style of yoga, which increases energy while strengthening the body. It consists of a series of poses linked by breath. It focuses on safety and correct alignment through individual adjustments. The result is improved flexibility and balance and a positive and relaxed mental state.  

2009 marks the expansion of Tai chi classes at Lotus Yoga, with a new teacher and a new morning and lunchtime class. Here we see Mark, who will be teaching a new Tuesday morning class in addition to Friday evenings, teaching a class at the Cultivate Health and Yoga day in November.

Ross starts his new lunchtime class on Tuesdays' starting at 1.00pm to 1.50, specially tailored to suit the lunchtime break.

This 45-minute session is an energetic and revitalising experience to carry you through the day and reduce the build up of work related stress and fatigue. Enjoy this soothing vinyasa flow practice as we incorporate meditation, intention and visualisation. All levels welcome.

Commencing: Wednesday 14.1.09
Time: 1pm-1:45pm
Duration: 8 weeks
Fee: €80

Our next series of yoga classes starts after bank holiday weekend on Tuesday, 28th October. Before this, from 13th to 17th October why not drop into a class of your choice, chat to the teacher and learn more about particular yoga styles and find out which course best suits you. During this week, you can bring a friend for free.   

We have just put together the first edition of our newsletter, combining the latest news from Lotus Yoga with practical tips to help you gain the most from your yoga practice, and brought straight to your email screen...

If you missed this one, don't worry, you can check out our web version (which even comes with an extra photo or two :) ) Also, if you are interested in receiving future update, you can let us know via our subscribe form. (And make sure to add to your address book so your email provider wont mistake us for spam...)

27 July 2008  By Tina-Marie O’Neill

Sunday Business Post

An introduction to yoga in the mid-1990s has transformed Paula Flood’s life and career.

Flood, who is from Kells, Co Meath, spent seven years working in sales and marketing before starting to teach yoga in Dublin in 1999. She specialises in hatha and pre-natal yoga at Lotus Yoga, a city centre studio she co-founded with likeminded yoga enthusiasts three years ago. She also teaches at a home studio in Glasnevin in north Dublin.

‘‘I started to practise yoga in the mid-90s as away to stay fit and relax,” she said. ‘‘From the first class, I felt transformed and I knew I wanted yoga to be a big part of my life.”

Flood qualified with the Yoga Therapy and Training Centre in the North. She trained at the Institute of Yoga in Bangalore, India, where a special maternity clinic combines western medicine and traditional Indian methods such as yoga and ayurveda, the ancient Hindu system of health care.

She also studied in Australia before setting up her business in Ireland.

The pre-natal yoga classes evolved when Flood’s sister and two friends became pregnant, and asked her to organise a class using yoga poses specifically for pregnancy.

The Lotus Yoga centre on Dublin’s Wicklow Street offers a range of yoga styles and training courses to suit all tastes, including hatha, iyengar, kundalini, ashtanga yoga and tai chi.

‘‘We retain our customers by providing excellent teachers and a good choice of classes,” said Flood.

‘‘At least one third of yoga students come to Lotus on the recommendation of a friend or colleague, so word-of-mouth is key to building the business. We don’t have a big budget for advertising so we focus on maximising our website presence on www.lotusyoga.ie and by distributing leaflets around the city.”

The centre also offers free meditation classes twice a week, but Flood’s main interest is in running a ‘corporate wellness’ programme at Lotus and at venues nationwide.

Corporate clients such as Teagasc, the Department of Foreign Affairs and the National Learning Network use the programme to learn about stress management, physical fitness and mental performance.

‘‘The courses are taught over half or full days and benefit businesses by increasing productivity, staff morale, team building, an increased ability to deal with stress, and having fewer sick days,” said Flood.

‘‘When there’s so much negative talk about an economic downturn, people tend to seek out alternative health systems like yoga and relaxation methods, and Lotus offers that urban oasis of peace and tranquillity.”